The Interactive Team HQ is a buzzing business hub in the heart of the city of Glasgow and although we work hard and smart, we all get a little stressed sometimes. I guess in a way feeling a bit stressed can sometimes be a good sign, it means that you’re working hard, you’re busy and let’s face it – in this industry, and bit of pressure normally breeds brilliant results! As a whole, the world of business can sometimes feel like a bit of a harbour for unexpected happenings and The Interactive Team are certainly no different!

Have you ever lost a client, forgotten your laptop, got a bad review from a superior or, well, you get my drift. Of course you have! For most of us, it’s a given that one work day or another, we’ll be presented with something we didn’t plan for, and normally something unpleasant that could predominantly cause panic, worry, anxiety or stress.

At The Interactive Team, we have been lucky enough to see continual success since the day we opened our doors for business just over 3 years, but it certainly hasn’t been easy. Our team are taught and trained to deal with problems as challenges, and to find the positive in every negative situation, and we never lose sight of our goals. Not only does this wholly work as a motivational tool, but we find ourselves to be much less stressed and panicked by unexpected situations because we know how to move forward and use it as a learning curve, rather than allowing it to emotionally damage us in the short term.

Don’t worry though, as it’s human nature to react to unexpected situations negatively, but the stress and worry that comes from our negative reactions can be monumentally overwhelming. If you want to ensure that you can keep your focus at work, you need to find different ways to tame your negativity. Think about it – if problems persist, you’ll inevitably feel long periods of emotional suffering, sleepless nights and a distinct lack of productivity. It’s no secret that when your mind is bogged down, you focus on everything that is not happening rather than putting all your energy into figuring out how to make things better.

It doesn’t matter which position you hold, or which industry you’re working in, you would never turn up to work with unprepared resources, so why does emotional preparation get put at the bottom of the to do list? Well, don’t worry, because you won’t be the only one. We’re all guilty of not planning our emotions, but a conscious decision to react in a certain way to a situation can save you an awful lot of unnecessary stress so it’s definitely something to do, if not at least consider! Although, even if you want to become ‘emotionally prepared’ for work, knowing how is pretty difficult! So don’t worry because here are four ways that you can prepare for unexpected challenges, to avoid stress, and to be more content at work:

GRATITUDE – In the morning when you wake up, before your mind starts inevitably going through everything you’ve got planned for the day ahead, stop and remind yourself of all the people and things for which you are grateful. It does sound a bit strange initially but hear me out! Even if you are not the type of person to keep lists, making a gratitude list before you drag yourself out of bed can really help maintain a good, clear perspective throughout the day of what is actually important. This will leave you less affected by unexpected situations and events and you will most certainly be able to relax more into your day and make the absolute best of whichever challenges you face. A good tip is to have a ‘gratitude shower’ in the mornings! Don’t try and tell me that you don’t sing in the shower – we all do – so instead of singing, maybe say out loud the things you’re grateful for!

‘MAYBE’ – The ‘maybe’ mantra is an absolute must when facing adversity in the workplace. Sometimes, when we get upset, it is because we believe that we are stuck in a rut and things really aren’t going out way. We definitely forget that – at times – life changes in funny ways! Always remind yourself that as bad as things may look or feel, there is always the possibility that MAYBE what is happening will turn out to be good, MAYBE you will figure out how to make the situation better, or MAYBE you can accept this challenge is what it is, and everything will be alright. These ‘maybe’ thoughts will enable you to see past the problem facing you, so make up a few ‘maybe’ statements you can always use and make a habit of remembering to keep them close at hand when challenges do arise!

AWARENESS – Sometimes, we don’t even realise that we have become negative or stressed at work until hours, or sometimes even days later! Creating awareness of when and how our emotions become increasingly negative is an ongoing practice or habit than can definitely help us identify opportunities for positive change – which is a necessity! Be smart about it, and don’t just expect your emotions to change on their own. Make a habit of taking physical action that will inevitably turn your frown upside down!

Try to remember each day that no matter what challenges you are facing, the next moment can bring something new. Remember, when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at start to change, so MAYBE it’s time to act and emotionally prepare yourself for less stress and a happier career!